The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena campaign against north Indians on Monday received support from what, given the current political equations, can be called unexpected quarters.
The Shiv Sena, a party Raj Thackeray quit two years ago to form the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and one which recently was seen wooing city residents from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, reprimanded north Indians in its mouthpiece Saamana for not adopting the state’s culture.
An editorial in the daily said leaders like Lalu Prasad Yadav, Amar Singh and Mulayam Singh Yadav from north Indian states frequently made inflammatory speeches in the city and blamed them for the recent violence.
It was also critical of Bihar legislators who recently asked for the removal of Bihar Governor R.S. Gawai, a Maharashtrian. “Gawai declared he had become a Bihari the day he took over. How many Bihari leaders have taken such a stand?” it said.